London Archives - Page 76 of 123

<strong>The Drought – Old Red Lion Theatre</strong>

3Nov

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

The Drought – Old Red Lion Theatre

Nina Ates's The Drought is showing at the Old Red Lion theatre. The 600-year-old pub hosts the 40-year-old intimate theatre setting. The theatre is renowned for its off-west end theatre staging challenging and ambitious work that transfers to the west end and off-broadway. The drought is arresting in its use of light, sound and acting. Marooned in an imaginary time and place where the sea has vanished, the three men battle lack of sleep, food and desperation. The set has drapes of a sail of a boat. The wind's relentless sound on the wood sends a cold tickle down one's spine. The play unfolds bit by bit the circumstances of this lone Captain and Stewart, who seem to be grasping at the last straws of survival. The outsider, the whaler, arrives asking for refuge. He breaks the ritual...

Jasmin Vardimon Company: ALiCE – Sadlers Wells

31Oct

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Jasmin Vardimon Company: ALiCE – Sadlers Wells

Jasmin Vardimon Company's modern retelling of 'Alice' is arresting, illuminating and inspiring. As you settle into the auditorium, there is a clock turning, and you notice the countdown to the start of the performance. Then it dawns on you to observe closely that it's a group of super flexible dancers telling the time with their bodies. With this stopping of time, as we wait for the time the show begins, we are grasped by the captivating 3rd Movement of Vivaldi's Summer. A rendition that evokes goosebumps. That is Jasmin Vardimon's choreography for you, beauty in the details, on-point music, arresting images and thought-provoking choreography. 'Allice in Wonderland, a classic, has been an inspiration for so many movies, theatre, sketches and dance ballets. This production literall...

28Oct

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

London

Daddy Issues – Seven Dials Playhouse

I really, really wanted to love Daddy Issues. I envisaged finding it funny, but challenging, and thought provoking; it sounded right up my street and at 75 minutes with no interval, it felt like a perfect Thursday evening activity to accompany a late dinner with a friend. And don’t get me wrong, there was much that I did enjoy. The height of this was Bebe Cave’s performance as Imi, our protagonist, who held the audience spellbound for the whole of this one-woman show. She is, frankly, flawless – with her portrayal taking us on an emotional journey that borders on exhausting. Friendly and full of self-deprecating humour one minute and genuinely unsettling the next, Cave is bubbling over with talent and is undoubtably the best thing about this production. Also deserving of a mention is...

A Dead Body in Taos – Wilton’s Music Hall

28Oct

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

A Dead Body in Taos – Wilton’s Music Hall

Sam is informed that her mother’s dead body has been found in the desolate region of Taos. She handles the news surprisingly well, but grief turns into anguish as she receives a letter from her mother’s pocket: Do not grieve me, I am not here. It transpires that her mother, Kath has been investing in new technology which allows her consciousness to function after death. As Sam discovers her mother’s past and interacts with her bodiless form, she comes to terms with their relationship and unresolved conflict. Eve Ponsonby is electric as Kath as she is resurrected in snapshots of her life. Brewing with rage and propelled by an interminable search for meaning or truth, Kath jumps between different ideologies. Ponsonby expertly captures her stubborn, unbound spirit governed by a deep inner ...

Contemporary Dance 2.0 – Battersea Arts Centre

27Oct

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Contemporary Dance 2.0 – Battersea Arts Centre

Performed by Shechter II and produced by the Hofesh Shechter Company, Contemporary Dance 2.0 is a performance that bursts with an eclectic range of dance styles and full body movement, showcasing the talents of eight incredible dancers. The audience are launched into the action with a shock opening, the dancers in impressive synchronisation. The routine is split into five different sections, a clever way to keep the audience’s interest and to tell the story. Repetitive movements as an ensemble are in perfect unison and are hugely impactful and exciting. Each dancer is unique in their own way and draw the audience’s attention to them at different stages. This performance is definitely an ensemble piece, but the choreography and spacing gives each member the opportunity to shine. ...

24Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Musical Con – ExCel Centre

London’s first ever musical convention opened at the ExCel Centre this weekend. Shanay Holmes not only organised the whole event but impressively hosted the main stage for the whole day. Musical Con was truly for the fans with spaces for fans to perform and show off their creativity with their cosplaying skills! The queue entertainment from West End Musical Choir set the tone for the day with a huge sing-a-long of some favourite musicals. The opening show was great with students accompanying the West End guests. Anyone with VIP passes was allowed near the stage which meant that you did not have to stay at the stage to hold a good spot for the day. There were plenty of photo opportunities throughout the venue. From a musical con sign, to the Delorian from Back to the Future. It was al...

24Oct

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

An Improbable Musical – Hackney Empire

An Improbable musical is a fun mixture of drama, music and theatre. The Hackney Empire is a fitting venue with its splendour of old-world charm and stunning productions. In the 120 years since its inception, it has played host to important and admired comedy legends. An Improbable Musical unfolds in front of you with improv magic, live music and puppetry. The team created a full-length play of varied characters with suggestions from the audience, all on the spot! Superb stagecraft, some stereotypical theatrical choices talented actors and musicians made this an enjoyable watch. Improvised theatre brings such joy due to the element of surprise for the audience and the performers on stage, tearing apart the fourth wall. With seasoned players like Lee Simpson and Josie Lawrence, joined ...

22Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

A Single Man – Park Theatre

Tonight, I had the pleasure of experiencing a near perfect night at the theatre. People, place, performances - to steal a well-known phrase, everything was coming up Zoë and I could not have been happier about it. Arriving at the brightly lit, inviting Park Theatre I was warmly greeted by the super-accommodating front of house, acquired a delightful glass of rose and found my seat. The stage is surrounded on three sides, and the front row of the audience’s knees are level with the stage. I’ve personally never been a fan of this set up, it’s always felt a bit too intimate somehow and if any of the action gets too close to you it’s a bit like being sat on the floor in a school assembly staring at teacher’s feet. Luckily, I was sucked into the action and after about 15 minutes any discomfo...

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come – Soho Theatre

22Oct

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come – Soho Theatre

Based on the critically acclaimed BBC Sounds podcast Brown Girls Do it Too, dynamic duo Rubina Pabani and Poppy Jay have brought their charm, wit and openness to the stage in this new show. Winners of Best Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards (2020) and Asian Media Awards, (2021) the podcast explores the chaotic reality of being a British Asian woman and their experiences of sex, identity and family while growing up. Titled 'Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, the unfiltered show is a hilarious mix of skits, songs , stories and dancing. Set in the early 2000s- style teen bedroom decorated with nostalgic pop culture references from the likes of Bend it Like Beckham, Friends and American Pie with R&B classics playing in the background, the intimate set perfec...

22Oct

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

A Gig For Ghosts – Soho Theatre

A Gig for Ghosts at The Soho Theatre is a heart-warming story that tells of the romance between Lilly and Amy. The show is a gig theatre show with one act. There is a lot more story to this show than other shows I’d the same format which helps to bring alive the characters. Although the subject matter is dark the script is also funny. Amy (Hanora Carmen) has a morbid job administering deaths for forgotten people and Lilly (Rori Hawthorn) is temping and new to London. The two characters are complete opposite, Lilly is desperate to fall in love and Amy is more comfortable alone. In the first scene we learn that Lilly is dead and this hangs over us throughout the show. The girls had convincing chemistry together and built believable characters. They were accompanied on stage by Maud (Li...